Nail Fungus Treatment in Miami, FL

If you suffer from toenail fungus (onychomycosis), and would like comprehensive
and highly effective removal and treatment, our specialists at the office
of Dr. Barry M. Tuvel, DPM is the ones to call. We provide comprehensive
toenail fungus treatment using specialized medications and procedures
— including laser treatment — for patients in Miami, FL, and
the surrounding region. Read on to learn more about toenail fungus and
contact our office at (305) 279-2499 to schedule a consultation today!

About Nail Fungus

Nail fungus, or onychomycosis, is a condition that occurs when a microscopic
fungus enters either a fingernail or toenail. Fungal infections occur
in toenails more often than in fingernails. Anyone can get nail fungus,
but infections are more common in people over the age of 60. For people
who have diabetes or a weakened immune system, nail fungus can present
serious risks. Usually, nail fungus occurs when the fungus enters the
nail through a small trauma (cut or break) in the nail. Nail fungus is
not caused by poor hygiene. Nail fungus can be spread from person to person.
It may be hard to determine exactly where or how a fungal infection is
acquired. However, a warm, wet place (for example, a locker room) is a
good place for a fungus to grow.

A nail fungus infection can make nails thick and discolored. In more severe
cases of fungal infections, you may feel pain in your toes or fingertips.

Our specialists may be able to tell if you have a nail fungus infection
by looking carefully at your nails. He or she may scrape some tissue (nail
biopsy) from under a nail and look at it under a microscope or send it
to a lab to determine what kind of infection you have.

Toenail Fungus Prevention

Toenail fungus is an unpleasant and uncomfortable condition that afflicts
people of all ages around the world. Thankfully, it's also easily
preventable. Here are a few tips to prevent fungus on your toenails, from
our podiatric specialists at the office of Dr. Barry M. Tuvel.

Avoid walking barefoot in public areas, such as locker rooms. Keep the
inside of your shoes dry and change socks frequently (100% cotton socks
are recommended)

Wear shoes that fit properly (shoes with a wide toe area and ones that
don’t press your toes)

Use an absorbent or antiperspirant to keep your feet dry.

Toenail Fungus Treatment Options

The two most common nail fungus treatment options are the use of medication
and targeted laser therapy. We offer both at our office. Learn more about
these treatment options below.

Medication

Treatment for a nail fungus may include topical creams or oral medications
(antifungal drugs). Oral drugs, such as Lamisil, can cure, or improve
about 50% of nail fungus infections. After a detailed assessment of your
particular fungal infection, our podiatric specialists will prescribe
a mediation that best fits your condition. Often, a good regular podiatric
debridement may be the best option to improve cosmetic appearance and
decrease a thick nail that can cause pain in shoe-gear. Rarely, surgery
may be required.

Laser Treatment

Laser treatment is also a highly-effective means of eliminating toenail
fungus. The laser, a concentrated beam of light energy, vaporizes fungus
on the toe without affecting the surrounding tissue. Different wavelengths
of energy are used in order to selectively treat different-sized fungal
infections. Studies have shown promising results in eliminating existing
toenail fungus, but it has not been proven that lasers are effective in
eradicating toenail fungus infections altogether.

Treatment Procedure and Costs

Laser toenail fungus treatment can be performed in our office and takes
approximately 20 minutes. Four or five separate visits may be required
for full fungus removal. Our laser beam operates at two separate wavelengths
to destroy any pathogens as well as visible fungus. No anesthesia is required
to perform the procedure. To date, this procedure is not covered by medical
insurance, since toenail fungus is considered to be a cosmetic disease.
Thus, our laser treatment is not a covered service under insurance plans,
with pricing determined by the number of visits and intensiveness of the
procedure.

The laser procedure is not painful and relatively quick. There are health
or age restrictions, and, to date, no clinical reports of any side effects
or adverse reactions. To learn more, we recommend scheduling an appointment
with our podiatric professionals for an initial consultation.

For fast and effective toenail fungus treatment, schedule an appointment
with us at (305) 279-2499 today!